Die for making axes



231i 1; --S11 t 1. 0. W. HUBB D 66 5 e6 DIE FOE MAKIN XES. No. 499,998.Patented June 20, 1893.

UNITED STATES PATENT. OFFICE.

CHARLES W. HUBBARD, OF PITTSBURG, PENNSYLVANIA.

DlE FOR MAKING AXES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 499,998, dated June 20,1893..

Application filed September 8, 1892. Serial No. 445,305. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that 1, CHARLES W. HUBBARD, of Pittsburg, in the county ofAllegheny and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and usefulImprovement in the Manufacture of Axes, of which the following is afull, clear, and exact description, reference being had to theaccompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a front elevation of anax-diepress, showing the dies in section. Fig. 2 shows the lower die inplan view, with the axpoll lying thereon. Fig. 3 is a view on largerscale, showing the dies in section, and closed on the ax-poll. Fig. lisa similar view, showing the dies open.

My invention relates to the manufacture of axes and similar tools, andis designed to'produce a better finished article with dies than has beenpossible heretofore.

To this end it consists in mechanism of improved form comprising dieshaving a working face with a convex portion extending across the die,also in such dies in combination with an end plunger adapted to be heldwith yielding pressure against the metal under treatment, as hereinafterpointed out in the claims.

In the drawings, 2, 2, represent the frame or housings of a die-press,having a moving cross head which carries the upper die 3.

5 is the lower die, set on the bed of the machine, and adapted, when invconj unction with the moving die, to afford a cavity of the size andshape of the finished ax. At their ends the dies are recessed to formahole into which fits a plunger 7, attached to a sliding-barS, whichpasses through the frame 2, and is adapted to be forced inwardly byyielding pressure of a weight 9,which maybe replaced by a spring orother-equivalent device. The dies have the usual side recesses toreceive a mandrel 12 around which the eye of the ax-poll. is formed.Instead of the usual concave contour given to the faces of the dies, myimproved dies have convex portions extending across the middle of theirfaces, as shown at a, a, so that when they act upon the ax, they shalltend to cause the metal to flow endwise in both directions throughoutthe width of the ax. This insures the formation of a perfect ax, andavoids the imperfections caused by the tendency which the concave diefaces have to draw the metal toward the middle of the axpoll. As themetal is endwise forced by my improved dies its flow is resisted by theinward yielding pressure of the plunger, which thus compresses themetal, causes the ax-poll to be perfectly shaped, and by adjustingitself to conform to the amount of stock in the ax-poll, efiects theresults above mentioned, even though a little too much or too littlestock be present in the blank.

Another material advantage of my invention is that the blade and poll ofthe ax may be welded together by the action of the dies. I-Ieretoforethe line of joinder between these parts has, with concave dies,beennecessarily the last part acted on by the dies and, consequently, theflux gathering at this point has prevented the welding of the parts,which therefore have to be welded by the hammer, a separate operation.By the use, however, of convex dies, having the convexity extendingacross the ax at the place of welding, as employed in my improvedmethod, the line of joinder between the poll and blade of the ax is thefirst instead of the last part acted on, and a complete weld may beformed, the surplus flux being driven away from this point instead oftoward it. I therefore, when it is so desired, am able to insert theblade of the ax in the cavity of the poll and weld the parts together bythe same action of the dies that forms the poll of the ax.

The operation is as followsz-The ax-poll with the mandrel therein islaid between the dies, and is compressed laterally thereby, the plungersimultaneously pressing against the metal therein and acting as abovedescribed, causing the shaping of the poll Without the formation offins.

The claims of this specification relating to the construction of thedies with convexities on their faces are not necessarily limited to usein conjunction with the yielding plunger, except when such limitation isexpressed in terms.

I do not claim herein broadlya pair of dies having a hole, a plungermovable within the hole, and means for continuously forcing in saidplunger with a yielding pressure, as this is not my invention, but

What I claim is 1. Ax dies having faces with convex portions extendingacross the die cavities at the pointof juncture of the polland bit;substantially as described. I 2. Astationary die and a reciprocatory die5 each having convex portions extending across the die-cavity, a plungerwithin ahole extending into the die-cavity, and means for exerting aconstant yielding pressure thereon; substantially as described.

3. Ax-dies having faces withconvex portions to cause outward flow of themetal, in combination with an end die, and means for applying a constantyielding pressure to the latter; substantially as and for the purposes x5 described.

4.. Ax-dies having faces adapted to cause the endwise flow of themetalfrom the middle outwardly, in combination with an end-die, and means forcausing the compresssion of the blank by the dies first named, and forap- 2o plying a constantyielding pressure to the end-die; substantiallyas described.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand this 29th day ofAugust, A. D. 1892.

. CHARLES W. HUBBARD.

Witnesses: I R. H. WHITTLESEY, H. M. CoRv'vIN.

